Jonathan Hill, Baron Hill of Oareford, a British Conservative politician, was appointed as European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union in the Juncker Commission.

The European elections showed a growing desire for an alternative future for the EU and the ECR Group became the third largest group in the European Parliament with 70 MEPs from 15 different member states. British Conservative MEP Syed Kamall became the Chairman.

In May 2010 David Cameron, Leader of the Conservative Party, became Prime Minister and a month later in the Czech Republic Petr Nečas, Leader of the Civic Democratic Party, became Prime Minister, giving the ECR family two Prime Ministers within the European Council at that time.

In October 2009, the “Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists” was established to bring together national parties supportive of the ECR Group. Its political foundation – “New Direction – Foundation for European Reform” – was launched at the same time.

Following the European elections in June 2009, the ECR Group was formed in the European Parliament with 54 MEPs from 8 countries. Its founding document the Prague declaration was signed setting out euro-realistic policies, including opposition to a federal EU and further EU centralisation.

The leaders of the British Conservative Party, David Cameron, and the Czech Civic Democratic Party (ODS), Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek formed the Movement for European Reform (MER) promoting the idea of an open, flexible and non-federalist Europe.

They were soon joined by Poland’s Law and Justice Party (PiS) and announced their intention to establish a new political group in the European Parliament after the European elections in 2009.